ostler



E. S. OSTLER RECORDING MECHANISM Fil ed March-l8 1935 2 Sheet-Shee t 1Inventor Emeat S. OAiler m Mm? Feb. 9,- 1937. E. s. OS'TLER RECORDINGMECHANISM Filed March 18,1935 2 s'ubz's sn et 2 EA a .E

FIG. 4

V O T I,

p'r'." Afldrhey u lrEo STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,070,310 nnconnmo MECHANISMErnest S. Ostler, Park Ridge, 111., a'ssignor to.

Stromberg Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of DelawareApplication March is, 1935, Serial No. 11,692 15 Claims. (oi. 101-297)The present invention relates in general to recording mechanisms, andmoreparticularly to that class of recording mechanisms in which theprinting operation is automatically effected by the insertion of a sheetupon which the im print is made. The main object of the invention is torovide novel contact arrangements for recording mechanisms of this type.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a good firmcontact is essential for properly closing the electrical circuit to theoperating magnet or solenoid of a recorder or printing mechanism in theclass to which the present inyention relates. It will also beappreciated that the member which is engaged by a sheet of paper onwhich an imprint is to be made must be easily movable or operable sothat the circuit can be completed and the printing operation eflected.

by only a slight pressure with the sheet against the operating member.One of the most important features of the present inventiomtherefore,relates to the manner in which a firm pressure at the circuit closingcontact is obtained by only a slight pressure against the operatingmember. This enables the printing operation to be effected by theinsertion of a single sheet of thin paper into printing position in therecorder.

Another feature of the invention relates to the manner in which thecircuit to the operating magnet is opened by the printing operation; and

cannot be again closed until the paper has been removed or partiallywithdrawn, and reinserted.

A feature of one embodiment of the invention lies in a novel mercurycontacting device arranged so that the mercury'switch may be closed byonly a slight pressure on the operating member engaged. by the insertedsheet.

Another embodiment of the invention is featured by the use of a leafspring snap switch and the. manner of operating the switch fromtheoperating member by means of compound leverage so that only a slightpressure with the paper against'the operating member will effect theoperation of the switch.

The above and other objects and features of the invention notspecifically mentioned will best be understood from a perusalof thefollowing specification when read in connection with the' accompanyingdrawings, comprising Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, which disclose twoembodiments of the present invention and in whicha Figure l disclosesthat portion of a time stamp ,necessaryfora'complete understanding ofthe present invention, including one embodiment .of

the novel paper-controlled switch or contacting I device; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the contactor 3 ,of'Figure 1 as viewedfrom the left in Figure 1;

and

of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the invention is shown asapplied toa, time stamp such as is disclosed in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 651,243,.filed January 11th,1933. Onlysuilicient of the general construction of the time stamp has beendisclosed iniFigure 1 as is necessary for an understanding of thepresent invention. Reference may be had to my aforementioned applicationfor a complete disclosure and description of one form of time stamp orprinting mechanism to which the present invention isv applicable.

The time stamp in general comprises a casing i which encloses thecontact mechanism 3 and "a time stamp similar to that shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the contactor the electro-magnet 2 forperforming the printing operation. Pivoted on the base casing l is theoscillatable stamp head 4 which is arranged to swing on pivot 8.The-upward movement of the stamp head is limited by suitable stops (not'-for operating the same, which may include a typewheel operating magnetand the necessary ratchet and pawl for driving the typewheels by meansof the magnet. The magnet maybe operated by impulses from a synchronousmotor contacting device within the stamp itself or by impulses from amaster or control clock at a remote point. 1 a

The printing electro-magnet 2 is mounted in the base casing I by meansof the mounting screws l3 which securely hold'the electro-magnet to lugsprovided on the base casing for this purpose. A

[yielding connection is provided between the plunger of the electromagnet and the stamp head. This yielding connection is effected by meansof a yoke member 9a which has upwardly tained in its raised position bymeans of the coil compression spring 12. By adjusting the slidablymounted abutment by means of the screw I l, the force of the stampingblow may be adjusted to any desired value. This adjustment and thedetailed construction of the yielding connection between the plunger ofthe electro-magnet and the stamp head is fully described in mypreviously referred to application.

The circuit to the printing electro-magnet 2 is-controlled by means ofthe contacting device 3 which is secured to the base casing l by meansof screws 20a. The contactor comprises two base plates 29 havingoutwardly extending flanges at their upper ends, thru which the screws20a are passed to secure the contactor to'the casing.

The paper-controlled arm or operating member 24 is pivotally mounted onshaft 21 extending between the two side plates 20. This operating leveris normally held in the position shown by means of coil tension spring4!, one end of which is secured to the pin 42 attached to the left handside plate 20 (as viewed in Figure 2) and the other end of which isattached to pin 43 mounted on the lever 24. In this normal position ofthe lever, the upper end thereof engages stop pin 28, and a projection39 on the lower end of the lever abuts against the post 40 which alsoserves to hold the two-plates 20 in spaced relationship.

The upper end of the operating lever 24 is provided with three headedstuds 26'which are engaged by the lower portion of a fingertip 25, theupper end of which projects thru a hole in the upper plate of the basecasing in such position that it will be engaged by a sheet of paperwhich is inserted in the recorder for a printing operation. This fingertip 25 is readily detachable so that other tips of different design maybe substituted therefor in order to vary the position of the imprint onthe paper.

The electrical circuit to the printing magnet is closed by means of thecylindrical mercury switch 22, a cross-section of which is shown inFigure 3 of the drawings. This switch consists of an open end casing orjacket 54 and a cover- 55 which forms an air-tight container for themercury. switch. This container is provided with a semicylindricalshapedpiece of molded insulation 44 having two wells or chambers eachcontaining a pool of mercury 46. These wells or chambers are separatedby a central wall of insulating material 56 provided with a hole 45which is normally above the levelof the mercury and is located to oneside of a vertical center line, as shown in Figure 1, so that as themercury switch is rotated about a central axis, the hole 45 will belowered to permit the two pools of mercury to come together and closethe electrical circuit.

with the mercury therein in all positions of the switch. The shaft pins2| and 2| a extend laterally from a central axis of the cylindricalcontainer and mount in bearings in the side plates 20. The operating arm23 is rigidly attached to the shaftpin 2la and serves as the operatingarm for rotating the switch about its central axis. The switch isnormally held in the position shown in Figure 1 by means of the coiltension spring 5|, one end of which is secured to a pin 52 mounted onthe side plate 20 and the other endof which is fastened to the operatingarm 23.

Pivotally mounted on the upper end of the paper-controlled operatinglever 24 is an oscillatable member 29 terminating in a hook portion 30which is normally in position to engage the laterally extendingprojection 53 of the contact operating member 23. The member 29 isnormally in the position shown in Figure 1 with the shank portion of themember resting on the projection 53 due to the weight of member 29. A

downwardly extending projection of member 29 has apin and slotconnection 3| with lever 24 in order to limit the movement of member2-9.

From the structure just described, it will be apparent that when a sheetof paper is inserted will engage the laterally extending projection 53-on the contact operating lever 23. 'I'hisrotates the mercury switch 22about its pivots 2| and 2Ia in a clockwise direction.

The mercury switch 22 disclosed in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of thedrawings is especially adaptable to this type of paper-controlledcontacting device since very little power need'be expended in order torotate .the switch about its axis. The advantage of the disclosed switchover the usual type of mercury switch is that the mercury in-the switchneed not be raised against the force ofgravity since it remains in thebottom of the chambers while the switch rotates, and the only forcerequired to rotate 'the switch is tition 56 which normally separates thetwo pools of mercury 46 is lowered until it is below the level of themercury and permits the two pools of mercury to come together thru thehole and complete the circuit to the printing magnet 2. As is wellknown, the closing of a circuit thru a mercury switch is highlysatisfactory in that a good low resistance contact is made as soon asthe two portions of mercury come together. The circuit to theelectro-magnet 2 is closed thru the mercury, the two terminals 41 whichare in contact with the two portions of mercury at all times, the leads48 connecting terminals 41 to the terminals 49, which are mounted on ablock of insulating material 50 secured to the side plates 20 of thecontacting device. The terminals 49 are connected by suitable leads (notshown) to the terminals of the magnet core, thru a suitable source ofcurrent.

When the printing magnetis energized due to the closing of \the electriccircuit by the insertion of the sheet of .paper to be printed asdescribed above, the plunger is drawn into the magnet and the stamp headcontaining the typethat which is necessary to overcome the friction Arock arm is pivotally mounted on shaft 33 extending between the two sideplates 20. This shaft also serves as a spacing pin for the two plates tomaintain them in spaced relationship. One end of the rock lever 32terminates in a laterally extending projection 34 which normally liesbelow the shank of member 23. Mounted on the other end of the rock lever32 is an anvil or shock plate 38 which lies directly below the contactopening'mechanism M which in turn is mounted on one of the side members9 connected to the plunger of the printing magnet. The

rock lever 32 is normally maintained in the position shown in Figure 1with'its left hand arm in engagement with the 'stop pin 35 by means of acoiled tension spring 36 having oneend connected to the rock lever 32and its otherend connected to the pin3l on the side plate 20.

The switch opening mechanism i4 is arranged so that the time of openingof the switch with respect to the printing operation may be adjusted tovary the amount of energy furnished to the stamp head actuating magnetand thereby vary the vividness of the imprint. This constructioncomprises the yielding plunger l6 mounted for sliding movement in abracket |5 secured to the side member 9 of the plunger. The plunger l6lies directly above the anvil 38 on the rock lever 32 and is slidablymounted in the wings of the bracket and normally held in its lowermostposition by means of the'coil compression spring H the lower end ofwhich engages a shoulder on the plunger IS the upper end of which is inengagement'with the upper wing of the mounting bracket. The bracketitself is adjustably mounted on the guide member 3 and its adjustment iseffected by means of an eccentric and associated mechanism indicatedgenerally at l8 and which is fully disclosed in my previously mentionedpending application.

As the stamp head is brought down by the 'enerv gization of the printingmagnet as previously explained, the plunger It strikes the anvil 38 onrock lever 32 and swings this lever about its pivot point 33. Thelaterally extending projection 34 on the'rock lever abuts against themember 29 and raises it, thereby disengaging the a hook 30 from theshoulder 53 on the contact operating arm 23. When released inthismanner,

the mercury switch 22 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction bymeans'of coil tension spring to its normal position, thereby raising thehole 45 above the level of the mercury and breaking the electric circuitto the printing magnet at this point. The circuit is-made and brokenbetween two portions of the mercury andthis eliminates the pitting andburning of contactsand the accompanying deterioration there.- of whichis usually present when an electric circuiif is made and broken betweentwo metallic contacts or between one metallic contact and mercury. Aspreviously explained, the member 29 has a pin and slot connection withlever'24 at 3| .and its movement is thereby limited when A it is thrownupward by'the rock lever 32.

As soon as the circuit to the printing magnet is broken as explainedabove, the magnet deepergizes and the stamp head returns to its normalposition as shown'in Figure 1 of the drawings. The rock lever 32 isthereby released and returned to its position against stop pin 35 by theaction of coil tension spring 36. This allows the member 29 to drop bygravity. In case the paper has not been withdrawn from the stamp and thelever 24 is still in its right hand position, the hooked portion 39 willcome to rest on shoulder 53 with the shoulder engaging surface of thehook to the right of the edge of shoulder Thus any slight movement ofthe paper which might oscillate the lever 24 back and forth will notcause. a repeated printing operation since the hooking edge of hook 30is not in engage ment with shoulder 53. Thus it is seen that only oneoperation will result from a single insertion of a sheet of paper intothe stamp. When the' sheet of paper is withdrawn, the paper controlledlever 24 is returned to its normal position as shown in the drawings bymeans of the coil tension spring 4| with its lower projection 39 against.post 48 and the upper end of the lever restin against the stop pin 28.The lever 29 is thereby moved to the left and the engaging edge of hook3i| drops over the shoulder 53 on contact operating lever 23 inreadiness for operating the mercury switch when a sheet of paper isagain inserted in the stamp.

It will be apparent from theforegoing, that r only a very slightpressure by the ledge of the' paper against the finger tip 25 isrequired to effect the closing of the circuit to the printing magnetsr'nce, with the form of mercury switch shown, I

there are no parts which need to be raised against the force of gravityand the only energy which need be expended is to rotate the-mercuryswitch about its pivot points 2| and 2|c. In this way, the circuit maybe closed and the printing operation'may be effected by a single sheetof paper inserted in the stamp irrespective of its stiffness.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the embodiment ofthe-invention disclosed therein makes use of a leaf spring snap switchsuch as is disclosed in Patent No. 1,960,020 issued May 22nd, 1934, toP. K. McGall. The time stamp to which the contacting device is appliedis similar to that disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings and likereference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts so that itis thought unnecessary to again explain these parts in detail.

The contacting device in this embodiment co prises two parallel plates62 held in spaced relax? by means of shafts or spacing posts 66, 8|, and33 The snap switch 6|, which may be similar. in all respects to 'theembodiment disclosed in Figure 1 of the above mentioned patent toMcGall, is

mounted on a side plate GZ by'means of mounting screws 81 and 88 Asclearly disclosed in the above mentioned patent, the snap switchconsists essentially of a container of insulating material 6| havingmounted therein a contact arm 92 secured at one end so that its free endmoves between two stops, one

of insulating material .85 and the other of con'- tact material 85. Thiscontact arm comprises a thin leaf spring supported at one end incantilever fashion in combination with adjacent parallel compressionspring means 84 attached to the free end of the contact arm at 9|. Theother end of the compressed spring means is pivoted at a point adjacentto the contact arm near its fixed end and the parts are so arranged-thatthe free end of the'leaf spring will move with a snap action whenpressure is applied to it by the plunger 83 shown in Figure 1 of thedrawings.

relieved the free'end of the leaf spring snaps back into its normalposition against the insulating stop 86.

Connections to thesnap switch are made by means of the terminal 89 whichis in electrical contact with the fixed end of contact arm 92 and theterminal 90 which is in electrical contact with the contact plate 85.One of the incoming power leads is connected to the other terminal ofthe electromagnet so that when the snap switch is operated, the circuitto the electromagnet will be closed to efiect the printing operation.

A paper-controlled operating lever 65 is pivotally mounted on shaft 68and is provided with a finger tip 63 held in place on the lever by meansof the retaining pins 64 in the same manner as The operating lever 65 isnormally retained in the position shown against the stop pin 61 by meansof a coil tension spring 79 secured to the lever near its pivot pointand having its other end'secured to a pin 83 on the side plate 62.Spring 19 is made relatively weak and its line of action is near thepivot point of the lever 65 so that very little force is required tomove the lever 65 to its right hand position and yet the spring hassuflicient power to restore the lever 65 when the sheet of paper isremoved. Mounted on an extension of the lever 65 is a rock member 10pivoted at II and normally held in the position shown with its extension16 resting on the laterally extending projection 15,

which is a part of lever 65, by means of a coil tension spring I4 havingone end secured to the arm 12 of member 10 and having its other endsecured to the laterally extending projection 69 of lever 65. v

The operating arm 16 of the rock member 10 is retained againstprojection by spring M in a position so that the end of the armwill-abut against the laterally extending projection 18 of the plungeroperating lever 11 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 8| and normallyheld against the post or pin 93 by the engagement of plunger 83 againstthe abutting surface82 on the lever 11.

' The lever 11 is free and the force exerted by the leaf spring contactarm 92 of the snap switch 6| whichkeeps the plunger 83 in its right handposition is sufiicient to maintain lever 11 against the stop pin 93.

When a sheet of paper is inserted in the stamp,

the edge of the sheet engages the finger tip 63 I arm 12 of rock member10. At the proper time magnet and allowing the stamp head to return toits normal position. This movement of the contact arm 92 moves theplunger 83 to the right and returns the plunger operating lever T! toits normal position in engagement with the stop pin 93. Since theoperating arm .16 of the rock member 19 is raised to disengage it fromthe projection 18, the movement of lever 11- to the right causes theprojection 18 to pass underneath the operating arm "16 so that anyslight movement 1 of the lever 65 caused by the shifting of the paperwill not cause repeated operation of the stamp head. It is not until thepaper has been com-. pletely withdrawn so that lever 65 can assume itsnormal position against stop pin 61 that the operating arm 16 againclears the projection I8 so that it can be returned by means of springI4- to its engagement with the projection 15 and in her 10 against theprojection 18 thereby moving.

lever 11 to the left about its pivot point 8|- The abutting projection82 moves the operating plunger 83 to the left thereby depressing thecontact arm leaf spring 92 at its point ofengagement therewithand-causing a snap action of this contact arm to carry the contact 9|into engagement with the contact stop 85. This completes th"electricalcircuit to th printing magnet, 2

- which energizes and draws down the stamp head 4 for the printingoperation.

,The contact opening mechanism- I4 is practically the same asthathisclosed in Figure 1 and described in connection therewith with theexceptionthat the slidahly mounted plunger 60 has secured to its lowerend an'angle lever I3 the lower end ofwhich is positioned directly abovethe position to again move the'leverv TI to the left when a sheet ofpaper to be printed is again inserted in the stamp.

When the circuit to the printing magnet is opened in the above manner,the stamp head returns to its normally raised position, the angle lever13 being moved with the plunger of the mag- I0 to be restored to itsnormal position.

lever 65 in this modification of the invention is accomplished by thecompound leverage which has been described. This is possible since themovement of the operating plunger 83 required to cause the contact armto snap fromone position to the other is very small and therefore thedistance from the pivot point of each lever to the point at which itaccomplishes its work can be made small in comparison to the distancefrom the pivot point of the lever to the point where the forceis appliedthereto. In this manner, the force supplied to the finger tip 63 by theedge of the paper can be greatly increased by means of the levers tooperate plunger 83 and thereby cause the operation of the snap switch.Thus, the circuit to the printing magnet can be closed by the insertionof a single sheet of thin paper into printing position in stamp, and yeta good firm contact is obtained at the circuit closing point which isimpossible in a case where. the sheet of paper directly engages thecentact and the pressure be- 1 tween the closed contacts is less thantheppressure exerted by the paper.

Having described the invention, what is new and is desired tohavesecured by Letters; Patent 1. In a printing device, an electricalcircuit including means for effecting a printing operation, a'singlepair of contacts in said circuit'continually biased to open-circuitposition; means for closing said contacts to effect a printing operationresponsive to the insertion of a sheet into printing position in saiddevice, said means including a sheet-controlled member engaged by theedge of vthe sheet and operated thereby, and means net and freeing arm12 to allow the rock member efiective during the printing operation forallowing said contacts to reassume open-circuit posi-'- tionirrespective of the position of said sheet-controlled membera 2. In aprinting device, electrical means for effecting a printing operation,circuit-closing means for controlling said electrical means, said'circuit. closing means biased to open-circuit poof asheet inserted insaid device, asystem of levers connecting said member and saidcircuitclosing means, said levers being compounded so that a relativelylarge force is available to operate said circuit-closing means with onlya slightpressure against said member with the edge of j the sheet, andmeans for interrupting the connection between said member and saidcircuit-closing means during the printing operation to allow the latterto return to open-cireuit'position.

i. A printing construction comprising printing means, electromagneticmeans for eifecting the printing operation, a circuit for saidelectromagnetic means, and,means for closing said circuit by theinsertion of a sheet into printing positioncomprising a sheet-controlledlever, a second lever pivotally mounted thereon, andnormally Opencircuit-closing means including a member engaged by said second leverand operated thereby to effect the closing of said circuit responsive tothe operation of said first lever by the insertion of a sheet.

5. A printing construction comprising printing means, electric powermeans for efiecting a printing operation, a circuit for said electricpower means, circuit-closing means biased to open-circuit position, asheet-controlled lever, a

second lever mounted thereon having means for.

engaging and operating said circuit-closing means when saidsheet-controlled lever is opermally open circuit-closing means includinga member engaged by Said second lever and tap-- erated thereby to effectthe closing of said circuit responsive to the operation of said firstverby the insertion of a sheet,- and means or disengaging said secondlever from said circuitclosing member during the printing operation toallow said circuit-closing means to return to normal open position 7. Aprinting construction comprising a type element and a platen element,electromagnetic means for effecting relative movement between saidelements for a printing operation, an electric circuit for saidelectromagnetic means, contacts in said circuit, a contact operatingmember, V

a sheet-controlled lever operated by a sheet inserted in printingposition, a rock lever mounted on said sheet-controlled lever andadapted'to engage said contact operating member, movement of saidsheet-controlled lever being transmitted thru said rock lever and saidcontact operating member to close the circuit thru said contacts, andmeans responsive to the printing operation for disengaging said rocklever from said contact operating member to permit the circuit to beopened at said contacts irrespective of continued pressure by the sheetagainst said sheet-controlled lever.

8. A printing construction comprising printing means, an electro-magnet{or efiecting the printing operation, acircuit for said electromagnet, acylindrical-shaped mercury switch mounted for rotation about itslongitudinal axis, a sheet-controlled lever, and a second lever mountedon said sheet-controlled lever and adapted to engage said mercury switchto rotate the same about its axis and thereby efiect closure of saidcircuitwhen said sheet-controlled lever is operated by a sheet insertedinto printing -position.

9. A printing construction'comprising printing means, an electro-magnetfor effecting the printing operation, a circuit for said electromagnet,a cylindrical-shaped mercury switch -mounted for rotation about itslongitudinal axisand retained in normal open-circuit position by aspring, a sheet-controlled lever, a second lever pivotally mounted onsaid sheet-controlled lever and adapted to engage said mercury switchand rotate the same to eflect closure of said circuit when saidsheet-controlled lever is operated by the insertion of a sheet intoprinting'position, and means for automatically disengaging said secondlever from said switch during the printing operation to allow saidswitch to be returned to normal open-circuit position by said spring.

10. A printing device comprising printing means, electric power meansfor effecting a printing operation, a rotatable drum-shaped mercuryswitch included in the circuit of said electric power means, a series oflevers including a finger engaged by a sheet inserted into switchtoefiect closure of said circuit, and means responsive to the resultingprinting operation for disengaging one lever of said series to allowsaid switch to return to normal open-circuit position irrespective oi.the position of said finger.

11. In a printing device, the combination of printing means, electricpower means for efiecting a printing operation, a leaf-spring snapswitch included in the circuit of said electric power means, a plungerfor operating said switch, a member engaged by a sheet when insertedinto printing position in saiddevice, a syste f levers for transmittingthe movement of said member to said plunger to operate said switch,thereby closing said circuit to effect the printing operation. Y

12. In a printing device, the combination of printing means,electricpower means for effecting a printing operation, a leaf-springsnap switch included in-the circuit of said electric power means, aplunger for operating said switch, a member engaged by a sheetwheninserted into printing position in-said device, a system 01 leversfor transmitting the movement said member printing position in saiddevice for rotating said p closing said circuit to efiect the printingoperation, and means efi'ective during said printing operation fordisengaging one of said levers to permit said switch to restore to openposition irrespective of sheet position.

13. In a printing device, printing means, electric power means foreffecting a printing operation, a snap switch included in the circuit ofsaid electric power means, a plunger for operating said switch, a fingerengaged by a sheet inserted in said device, and a system of compoundleverage for transmitting movement of said finger to said plungerwhereby said switch is operable to efiect a printing operation by aslight pressure against said finger with the inserted sheet.

14. In a printing device, printing means, electric power means foreffecting a printing 0peration, circuit-closing means for completing acircuit to said power means, a finger engaged by a-sheet inserted insaid device, and a system of to said plunger to operate said switch,thereby levers for transmitting movement of said finger to saidcircuit-closing means, said levers being compounded so that a relativelylarge force is effective at said circuit-closing means by theapplication of a relatively slight pressure against said finger with theedge of the inserted sheet.

15. In a printing device, electrical means for effecting a printingoperation including a pair of contacts biased to open position, a fingerenga'ged by the edge of a sheet inserted into printing position in saiddevice, a system of levers ERNEST s. os'rmn.

